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About Panerai Watches

Panerai began making watches in Florence, Italy back in 1860, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that the firm produced its first wristwatch. By then its roots in Florence were as deep as those in Switzerland, where Panerai watches were produced.

The breakthrough for the company was an order fo...

Featuring a Rolex movement, the limited-edition Panerai Radiomir (only 300 were made) was designed for use by commandos and torpedo riders—frogmen who rode a slow-moving torpedo toward a target before attaching a timed mine to the underside of a ship and then riding away. The watches had a cushion-shaped case, a screw-down crown to keep water out of the movement, and oiled-leather straps that were long enough to be worn on the outside of a diving suit. Given their limited supply and the tough conditions they were subjected to, these watches are very highly prized by collectors today.

The watch took its name, Radiomir, from the luminous material that Panerai first developed in 1910. Made of zinc sulphide and radium bromide, Radiomir allowed the numbers and hands on a watch to be read in dark conditions. It was replaced in 1949 by Luminor, which glows thanks to the presence of tritium, a less-dangerous compound than radium bromide.

Throughout the 1950s and ’60s, Panerai continued to produce wristwatches for the Italian Navy in regular and destro (left-handed) versions. Some watches from this period were known as Trittico watches, thanks to their trio of features, which included a depth gauge.

Panerai also made Kampfschwimmer watches, some with so-called California dials (numbers on the bottom, Roman numerals on the top), for Germany’s only postwar commando unit. And in 1956, Panerai created a large-face Radiomir watch for the Egyptian Navy.

Panerai might have remained a military diving watch in the minds of the public had it not been for Sylvester Stallone, who, in 1995, purchased a Luminor while on location in Italy. Sales of the watches jumped after its debut in Stallone’s “Daylight,” and Sly even had some watches—dubbed Slytech—made with his signature engraved on the back. These he gave as gifts to friends, including fellow action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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Panerai Ferrari Fer00015 Auto. Perpetual Calendar. NewPanerai Ferrari Fer25 Foudroyante Rattrapante Chrono.Officine Panerai Luminor Marina Pam004 Pam00004 004 PvdPanerai Ferrari Fer00020 8 Day Gmt Monopulsante ChronoPanerai Pam 243 K Luminor 1950 Submersible 1000 MeterFerrari By Panerai Scuderia Chrono 40 Mm Fer 019 ~new~ Panerai Pam 91,antracite Dial 44 Mm.titan/ss Bracelet !Panerai 329 L 2010 Retail $9950 Gmt P9001 No ReserveHuge Ltd Edition Panerai Submersible Pam24 W/b&pPanerai Submersible 25 Tritium Dial D Series InmaculatePanerai Pam 184 Radiomir GmtPanerai Pam 24 (luminor Submersible)Panerai Pam 87 Luminor Submersible 1000 Mts 95%Panerai Pam 48 K Luminor Marina Stainless Steel +extrasPanerai Pam 243 Pam00243 Luminor Submersible 1000mts LnPanerai Ferrari Fer00011 Bnib Yellow Chrono No Reserve!Panerai Luminor Automatic Power Reserve WatchPanerai Luminor Marina Watch Pam 051 40mmPanerai Fer00003 Ferrari Gt Gmt Retail $7800 Nr.99 BnibPanerai Ferrari Scuderia Chronograph Auto Cosc Fer00008Officine Panerai Luminor Marina Pam 1004 WristwatchPanerai 44mm New Version Black Rubber Strap Authentic !Panerai Ferrari Series Fer002Mario Paci Pav 90 Strap For Panerai 24/24 115/75Panerai Blue Rope KeychainPanerai Sandwich Dial And HandsPanerai Luminor Marina Pam127ePanerai Classic Yachts Challenge Hat - New In BagLeather Belt With Panerai Gpf Mod Dep Buckle "xl" (nib)1 Spring Bar Gpf-mod Dep Buckle For Panerai 24mmPanerai Gold Plated Cuff Links Very Rare New In Box!2010 Pig Model Dealer Display For Panerai Collector!!!1 Spring Bar Gpf-mod Dep Buckle For Panerai 26mmIphone Application For Watch Hunters: Rolex Panerai Iwc
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Recent News: Panerai Watches

Source: Google News

British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta - Roundup
Sail World, July 28th

British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta 2010 ran from Sunday 18th July to Saturday 24th July and attracted an overall entry of fifty-nine boats...Read more

Irish Classics Are Solent Winners
Afloat, July 26th

Although light airs prevailed on the final day of the British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta, there was just enough wind for the single scheduled...Read more

Panerai Honors Its Internet Fans With Limited Edition Watch
Luxist (blog), July 25th

Panerai has just released a limited edition watch (the PAM 360) in honor of the unofficial Panerai fan forum site Paneristi.com...Read more

Panerai Introduces iPhone App
Elite Traveler Website, July 23rd

July 23, 2010 - New York, NY -- Reported by Elite Traveler, the Private Jet Lifestyle Magazine -- Italian watchmaker Officine Panerai has made the digital...Read more

British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta
Sail World (press release), July 22nd

Despite forecasts of rain showers and light winds, the weather gods smiled once again today on the crews competing at the British Classic Yacht Club Panerai...Read more

Cork Harbour One Design Cuts a Dash at Classic Yacht Regatta
Afloat, July 19th

Competitors at the British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta 2010 were treated to sailing conditions more akin to the Mediterranean than the Solent...Read more

Panerai unveils three new manufacture movements
Public Broadcast News (blog), July 17th

To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Officine Panerai is unveiling three new manufacture movements at the SIHH. The in-house movements signal Panerai's...Read more

Panerai PAM 360 “Paneristi” Edition
Perpetuelle.com (blog), July 2nd

by Kyle on July 02, 2010 Only 300 will be made — meaning that the PAM 360 is set to become one of the most highly coveted and sought after Panerai's...Read more